Comparing traditional lighting with LED

"The traditional lighting sources used in greenhouses are providing a much lower light efficiency than that of LED grow lights. LED grow lights can accurately provide low-consumption, high-efficiency uniform light lines and light distribution with appropriate wavelength and color ratio, which is required for efficient photosynthesis for plants in the greenhouse." That's according to LED supplier Atop Hort. The Chinese company has invested strongly in their knowledge of plants and LED, and created a full assortment of light solutions to help commercial growers.

According to the company's developers, the knowledge of photosynthesis played an important role in the development of the products Atop Hort is currently providing. "Not only can LED grow lights shorten the plant growth cycle to increase the quantity and quality of plants, but it can also use a switch device to control the process of plant growth from seedling, germination, bloom and fruit." The company designed their horti-bar, E-version horti-bar and hortitube for interlighting vine crops like cucumber, tomato and peppers.

Future of LED

"We believe in the future of LED. Compared with traditional grow lights in the greenhouse, LED grow lights have some obvious advantages. First, LED grow lights have a long life span with more than 5,000 hours, which is five times more than a HPS or MH. Although high-power LED grow lights have a heating problem and a shorter life, they can also reach over 30,000 hours."

Secondly, LED grow lights generate less heat. "And the energy conversion efficiency in the visible light region is 70-80%, while the traditional grow lights release much heat, causing the temperature inside the greenhouse to rise, leading to an adverse effect to plant growth."

Thirdly, LED grow lights have a higher luminous efficiency than any other grow light. "That is to say, with the same amount of lights, LED grow lights can save about 90 percent of electricity, which is two or three times as much as traditional grow lights like HPS", they conclude. "What’s more, LED grow lights are very lightweight with a more beautiful appearance, it’s the best choice for modern agriculture indoor farming."